Chapter 5: A Fool's Paradise

-o-o-o-

"Ki-yo-ta-ka!"

I groggily roused myself from sleep, trying to find the source of the noise. It was none other than my self-declared roommate, Kiryūin Fūka, who was lounging on the couch.

What a surprise. Who could have ever predicted it was her rousing me from sleep? Not me, of course.

There was a smug grin on Fūka's face. She was expecting my gift.

I sat up from my bed, climbing out of the warmth of my bed in order to reach the gift box.

I handed it to Fūka, who instantly tore at the wrapping.

Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she lifted the magenta pendant necklace from the box.

"What do you think?" I inquired.

"I love it. Thank you so much, Kiyo-kun!"

She leaned her head down, as I helped her clasp the necklace around her neck. Afterward, she latched onto me, arms around my shoulders. Her alluring scent wrapped itself around my senses, and almost stirred something inside me. There was a predatory grin on her face.

My gift seemed to have lit something within her.

After a few seconds, she stared at me expectantly.

I sighed. "I'll cook today, my treat."

"There's a good Kiyo-kun."

"It's not like I cook every day anyway," I muttered.

"What was that?" There seemed to be an intense aura radiating from Fūka's smile, which was almost as fake as a politician's smile. I would know.

"Uh. Well, just that it would be nice if you helped out with cooking or getting the groceries sometimes. Since you're staying here so often," I quickly amended.

"Does that mean I get to move in with you?" she grinned.

"I guess. You're basically already moved in."

"Yay! Ki-yo-ta-ka-kun is so nice!" she poked me on the cheek as she watched me cook breakfast.

After 10 minutes, breakfast was done, and I served it to Fūka.

"Itadakimasu", we both said, as we dug in. However, my phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket.

[06:30:21 AM] [Okitani Kyōsuke] Do you have time today?

It seemed like Okitani was up early today. He said he normally woke up at 8:00 on the weekends.

[06:31:00 AM] [Ayanokōji Kiyotaka] Yes, why?

[06:31:14 AM] [Okitani Kyōsuke] Just some things about the school that I'd like to discuss with you.

[06:31:50 AM] [Ayanokōji Kiyotaka] We can meet for lunch if you'd like. Are Sudō and Sotomura coming?

[06:32:12 AM] [Okitani Kyōsuke] I was thinking of a conversation between just me and you.

Okitani wanted to discuss his suspicions in private, without being pressured by the group.

[06:33:00 AM] [Ayanokōji Kiyotaka] I see. I was just curious why you chose to talk to me instead of any of those two.

[06:33:30 AM] [Okitani Kyōsuke] Well, the truth is that I tried to talk to them but they brushed me off. You know how Sudō is, and Sotomura just followed him.

I put my phone down and continued eating breakfast with Fūka, which would take just a few minutes. Once we were finished, Fūka generously moved to put the plates away.

[06:38:18 AM] [Ayanokōji Kiyotaka] Makes sense. We can meet at the convenience store for lunch at 12:30 if you'd like. I just spent an exorbitant number of points at a restaurant yesterday.

[06:38:50 AM] [Okitani Kyōsuke] Sounds good. See you later.

-o-o-o-

After working out at the gym with Sudō and spending the rest of the morning reading one of Shiina's book recommendations, I met with Okitani in the first-year dorm lobby to head to the convenience store, which was just a few blocks away.

We bought some ramen and drinks and then sat on a wooden picnic table across from each other. Men truly were simple creatures.

"Ayanokōji, do you have any suspicions about this school?"

"Not particularly. I guess it is weird how this school is given an incredibly high budget each year by the government for its facilities and student allowances."

By a simple calculation, one could tell that it was a strange occurrence.

"Those are exactly my thoughts," Okitani instantly revealed.

"But since this school is so prestigious, and the best high school in Japan, would that justify the high budget?" I wondered aloud.

"I thought about that, but I don't think so." Okitani shook his head in denial, "There's no way they would pour that many points into a high school, even one of this caliber."

"But these are just speculations, no?" I was playing the devil's advocate.

"Right, but there were also other suspicious things. Like the free convenience store items and free meals at the cafeteria."

"Is it really suspicious for a school to provide items in case of an emergency?"

"W-Well, I guess not. But there's one more thing. Chabashira-sensei had never said that we would receive 100,000 points per month."

"Hm? Then tell me, what did she say?"

"She said that points are automatically deposited into our accounts on the first of every month. We all should received 100,000 points already. One point is worth one yen. She never said the 100,000 per month was guaranteed."

Okitani continued, "Our class just assumed that it was 100,000 per month when in reality, it was 100,000 this month."

"You're right. I'm impressed with your memory, Okitani."

The short, purple-haired boy bashfully laughed off the praise, "I was a top student in middle school, and survived mostly off my photographic memory and some decent study habits. In junior high, I kind of slacked off and didn't build good study habits."

"I see. So what do you think about the hundred percent graduation guarantee, then? If our points aren't guaranteed to be 100,000 points per month, would they change every month? And how would that happen?"

"W-Well, that part I'm less sure about."

"Let's think for a moment. This school boasts a hundred percent graduation guarantee rate, right?

"Right."

"So it would be right to assume that this school adequately prepares you for the next stage in life—whether it be going into tertiary education like college, or working for a company. What happens at companies?"

"Well, people are given a salary, and sometimes given bonuses or deductions based on their performance at the company."

I watched as the gears in Okitani's head began to turn, "So this school is just like a company. Our starting salary is 100,000 points per month, and can go up or down based on how they evaluate us."

"How would they evaluate us?" I inquired.

"Through student behavior and tests," Okitani scratched the back of his neck, "Which means we're absolutely fucked. Everyone has been sleeping off in Class D."

"But why would Class D's behavior affect our private points?"

"Well, the school can't just evaluate us as individuals," Okitani reasoned, "Teamwork and social collaboration are important in a company as well."

"Chabashira-sensei also mentioned private points in class. Not just points," I reminded him.

"You're right. So there might be some other form of points that are associated with classes. Let's call them class points. Perhaps private points are derived from the performance of the class or these class points. Which means that we are not in the best situation right now."

"That is an issue," I admitted. "We've also had two people expelled so that might play a role in our losses."

"We had thought this school was a paradise. But it turns out, it's only a fool's paradise," Okitani said.

"Still, I'm not sure about telling the class," Okitani raised the point before I could even get to it. "It's just a theory, and besides, with expulsions and our terrible class behavior, we might be at dead zero already."

"It hasn't been that long. Maybe there's still hope since Ike and Yamauchi are gone. Sudō's still sleeping around, and some of the other boys and girls are too, so if we get them to correct their behavior, maybe we can salvage some points."

"That is a good point," Okitani put his hand on his chin in thought. "We can tell the class tomorrow then."

"No, there's no we in this," I instantly objected.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm an ordinary student, and you formed the deduction by yourself."

"Well, you also played a part in it, no?"

"A minor part. The excellent deduction was mostly from you. Anyways, if you warn the class to be on their best behavior so that they don't lose private points, then they will probably listen. No one likes to have their allowance taken away, after all."

"You're right. Okay, how do we go about this?"

"You can meet with Kushida and Hirata tonight since they're the main social butterflies of our class. Then, they can set the stage for you during homeroom tomorrow."

"But Chabashira-sensei always uses homeroom to talk about school stuff."

"I'll rent the homeroom time from Chabashira-sensei for you. Those 20 minutes should be enough."

"Wait, you can do that?" Okitani was utterly confused.

"Remember? She said on the first day that anything in the school can be purchased using private points, within reason."

"Wow. Okay, it should be fine, since I did debate in middle school and junior high. I can split points with you."

"No need," I passed off his offer, "You're already presenting the idea to the class. It's only fair that I pay."

"Ayanokōji-kun, you really are a genius. Why don't you want to present the idea with me to the class?"

Okitani was correct. Most people would do anything for money and fame. Presenting how you solved a mystery to the class was assuredly going to yield social benefit.

"I dislike trouble and attention. Just keep the credit to yourself. I just want to live a normal life. Unfortunately for me, it seems like this school is far from normal."

"It definitely is far from normal. I understand." Okitani leaned across the wooden table and clapped me on the back. "Don't worry man, I'll help you and the class out. You won't have to say anything."

Okitani Kyōsuke was an incredibly kind and empathetic person.

"Thank you, Okitani."

"Haha, no problem man. That's what friends are for, right?"

Friends, huh? I had never made a friend before. Okitani was the first friend I had made in school. A true friend.

"Yeah, you're right. Okay, I can send a message to Hirata and Kushida, and we can meet in my room."

"Sounds good," Okitani gave me a thumbs up.

Wait... I have a troublesome woman as my roommate.

"Uh, on second thought, do you wanna send them the message and meet in your room?"

"Uh, okay," Okitani shrugged. I continued eating my ramen and sipping my drink, as he pulled out his phone and began texting.

A few minutes later, he spoke again. "Okay, it's going to be 9:00 PM in my room, which is room 3-26."

"Sounds good. I'll be there."

After exchanging goodbyes, Okitani left the picnic table. Okitani had performed an amazing deduction of the school. He would draw many eyes during Monday's homeroom period tomorrow.

I chose to leave for the park. Hopefully, I could find a wooden bench somewhere so I could read Hiyori's book recommendation.

The park was a well-maintained paradise.

"Excuse me."

I looked up to see none other than the Student Council President. Standing beside him was Tachibana Akane, the purple-haired girl who had been the announcer for the Club Fair. She was also the Student Council Secretary. She looked like the loli girl from Class A, Sakayanagi Arisu.

Over the past week, Horikita Manabu had become one of the people I frequently saw at the gym.

"Mind if I take a seat?"

It was not a good idea to refuse the most powerful of the third-years—no, he was the most powerful student in the entire school.

"Be my guest."

"That's an interesting book you're reading. Faceless Killers."

"Yeah, one of my friends recommended it to me."

"Must be a true book reader."

"You could say that." I set the book down, remembering which page I was on. "So Horikita-senpai, what did you want to talk about?"

"Why do you continue this farce?"

"What do you mean?" I was confused.

"You are exceptional. It's obvious. No matter how much you pretend to be an ordinary student, this school is not ordinary, either. You are aware of this."

It was the same deduction as Nagumo Miyabi had made yesterday. It was clear that Horikita-senpai must have found my student file just as Nagumo did.

"I came to you with an offer." The infamous dictator leaned forward, hands clasped together. "Join the Student Council as the first-year representative."

Oh, now he wanted to keep me in prison for all of eternity. I could just imagine the work, slaving away under his cruelty.

Then, I imagined the look on Loli-senpai's face if I accepted it.

"Are you prepared to make such a pre-emptive offer based on a few deductions? Seems a little risky, no?"

"I wouldn't say so," Horikita countered, "I'm confident in your skills and capabilities."

"B-But Horikita-san!" Loli-senpai objected, "He's right, isn't it too sudden?"

The truth was that Horikita Manabu was desperate. He had known me for a week and was prepared to recruit me into the student council.

"You might want to know that Nagumo-senpai made me the same offer."

I watched the man in front of me carefully. Nothing betrayed his reaction, except a slight clench of the hands.

"When?"

"Yesterday."

"I see. Then, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, become the Student Council Vice President."

"W-What?" Tachibana-senpai spluttered in shock. "Horikita-san, you cannot be serious!"

"Do you doubt my opinion?" the black-haired boy retorted.

"No, President," Loli-senpai backed down.

"How is it possible to have two Student Council Vice Presidents?"

"We have space for a second one. Your answer?" Horikita asked me.

"President, you are incredibly desperate. Is the battle between you and Nagumo really that dire?"

The cracks in Horikita-senpai's facade grew bigger and more conspicuous, as he sighed.

"I can't keep anything from you, can I? Nagumo currently has control over the entire second year. After I step down as Student Council President, Nagumo aspires to turn the school into a true meritocracy. Where students are evaluated as individuals and not as classes."

"And why do you think that is an issue, Horikita-senpai?"

"Such a system hinders teamwork and relies upon individuality. No one will help you if you fall. Everyone will push each other down."

"Isn't that the reality of society?"

"Perhaps," he acquiesced, "But not to such an extent of pure individuality. Teamwork and cooperation should always be nurtured, not banished. Classes should develop as a group to promote unity. Only then, can they truly compete with one another."

"What could that ever mean, senpai?"

Both Horikita-senpai and Loli-senpai went silent and stared at me. However, there was a knowing glint in Horikita's eyes. I concluded that he had willingly revealed the information.

"Could you mean class competitions? I don't think upperclassmen are supposed to reveal things to freshmen such as myself."

"I'm sure you already knew that." Horikita countered.

"No, I don't think I did." I flipped my phone to reveal the screen, and I stopped the recording.

"Do you intend to extort me for points?"

"You cannot be serious! What a terrible kōhai!" Loli-senpai objected again, but Horikita raised a hand to silence her as I continued.

"I have no clue what you are talking about, senpai. I would appreciate the gift of points if you were to transfer me some, though. You're a third-year, surely you would gift an underclassman some of your points."

At this, Horikita-senpai cracked a smile. "Fine. How much?"

"Three million would suffice. I am not such a demanding person, after all."

After a few moments of being on his phone, Horikita transferred me the points and I deleted the recording.

"You are a shrewd one, Ayanokōji."

"I'm an ordinary student."

"What do you say to my offer, Ayanokōji?"

"I would like to keep it on the table. I want to enjoy my ordinary life a little longer."

Horikita chuckled, "Of course. I thought you might say that. I'll leave the offer open." He stood up from the bench.

"Pleasure doing business with you, President."

"Same to you."

I spent the rest of my day in perfect mediocrity. With nothing to do in my apartment, I decided to message Chabashira-sensei.

[05:30:12 PM] [Ayanokōji Kiyotaka] How many points are required to rent the homeroom time?"

I waited for a few minutes as I continued watching an anime.

[05:35:30 PM] [Chabashira Sae] 30,000 points, why do you ask?

[05:36:17 PM] [Ayanokōji Kiyotaka] I sent you the necessary points. Okitani Kyōsuke will be presenting something important tomorrow in class, along with Hirata Yōsuke and Kushida Kikyō.

[05:36:30 PM] [Chabashira Sae] A pleasure doing business with you.

I could sense a hint of curiosity from our teacher, but she didn't pry further.

For the next few hours, I didn't really do much until nightfall, when I would meet with Okitani, Kushida, and Hirata.

The clock struck 9:00 PM, and I found myself standing outside room 3-26. Okitani Kyōsuke had invited me to discuss the upcoming revelation with Hirata Yōsuke and Kushida Kikyō. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

The door creaked open, revealing Okitani's friendly face. "Hey, Ayanokōji-kun! Glad you could make it." He stepped aside, allowing me to enter the room.

The atmosphere inside was casual, with dim lighting and a relaxed ambiance. Kushida and Hirata were already there, sitting on the bed and chatting. As I walked in, they turned their attention toward me.

"Hey, Ayanokōji-kun," Kushida greeted with a warm smile.

"Hello," Hirata added, nodding in acknowledgment. His dark circles were still present under his eyes. I would need to talk to him later.

Okitani gestured for me to take a seat, and I obliged, settling into a chair. The tension in the air hinted at the gravity of the conversation about to unfold.

"Okay, let's get straight to the point," Okitani began, looking at each of us in turn. "I've discovered something about the school that could have a significant impact on all of us."

Hirata leaned forward, curiosity etched on his face. "What is it?"

Okitani's narrative unfolded with a sense of urgency, his words measured and deliberate. He began by detailing the information he had gathered regarding the school's points system. The room, initially buzzing with casual chatter, gradually succumbed to a profound silence as each revelation sank in.

"So, here's the deal," Okitani started, his gaze sweeping across the faces of those gathered. "We assumed we were getting a guaranteed 100,000 points every month, right? Well, turns out, that might not be the case."

Hirata and Kushida exchanged puzzled glances, their curiosity evident.

"Okitani-kun, everyone remembered that we received 100,000 points per month, though?"

"No. The thing is, Chabashira-sensei never explicitly said it's 100,000 points per month. She just mentioned that points would be deposited on the first of every month. Her exact words were that points are automatically deposited into our accounts on the first of every month. You all received 100,000 points already. One point is worth one yen."

Everyone assumed it was 100,000, but what if it's not? What if it varies?"

The weight of uncertainty hung in the air as the implications of Okitani's words settled in. Hirata leaned forward, his brow furrowed, seeking clarity. "But why would she not specify? What purpose does it serve to keep us in the dark?"

Okitani nodded, acknowledging the valid question. "Exactly. That's what got me thinking. And it doesn't end there. What if there are other forms of points associated with classes? Class points, maybe. Private points derived from class performance. It could explain why we're not as secure as we thought."

Kushida's eyes widened, realization dawning. "So, our individual points could be affected by how the entire class behaves?"

"That's what I'm getting at," Okitani affirmed. "The school might be evaluating us collectively, not just as individuals. And considering the recent expulsions and our class's behavior—looking at phones in class, sleeping, tardiness… we might be at a massive disadvantage."

The room absorbed the implications in silence, the gravity of the situation settling on everyone present. Hirata, usually composed, appeared deep in thought, grappling with the potential consequences.

"We've been living in what we thought was a paradise," Okitani continued, "but it might just be a fool's paradise. And if we don't act, we could be in serious trouble. Especially with the expulsions of Ike and Yamauchi, we might have lost even more class points."

Hirata's brown eyes seemed to dim even more as Okitani mentioned the expulsion of our classmates.

A tense atmosphere lingered as the trio absorbed the information. Okitani's deduction had unraveled a layer of mystery surrounding the school, revealing potential pitfalls that had gone unnoticed.

"So, what you're saying is..." Kushida started, her eyes widening as she processed the information.

"We might not be as secure as we thought," Okitani finished her sentence. "And that's why I wanted to discuss how to approach the class tomorrow. Ayanokōji-kun suggested talking to you two first."

Hirata furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "We need to address the class carefully. We don't want to create unnecessary panic."

Kushida nodded in agreement. "Right, and we should focus on encouraging better behavior rather than instilling fear."

"I've already rented the homeroom time from Chabashira-sensei," I added, providing the necessary context for our plan. "Okitani will present the findings, and we need your help in setting the tone during homeroom tomorrow."

Hirata and Kushida exchanged glances and nodded, silently communicating their readiness to support Okitani's initiative.

"We'll work together on this," Hirata affirmed, determination in his voice.

Kushida chimed in, "And we'll make sure the class understands the importance of unity and cooperation."

Okitani grinned, appreciating the support. "Thanks, guys. Ayanokōji-kun, I couldn't have done this without your help."

I nodded, acknowledging the teamwork that had brought us to this point. "Let's hope this helps the class and makes them aware of the challenges we might face."

As the meeting continued, we finalized our strategy for addressing the class and ensuring a smooth presentation during homeroom the next day. Little did we know, our actions would set off a chain of events that would reshape the dynamics of our class and the challenges we faced at this prestigious yet mysterious school.

"Okay, well, it's getting late, so I'll head back to my room," Kushida suggested. Indeed, it was late, almost 10:30 PM.

"We'll start going, too," Hirata and I both got up, and the three of us exited Okitani's room.

"See you later."

From there, Kushida split off from us, in a strange direction that was not towards the girls' dorms.

"Hirata."

"Ayanokōji?" He asked, puzzled, as he turned around.

Hirata's silhouette was illuminated by the ambient light in the hallway, his expression a mosaic of emotions as he wrestled with the aftermath of Yamauchi and Ike's expulsion. The distant murmur of crickets provided a subtle soundtrack to the silent conversation that unfolded between us.

"I should've seen this coming," Hirata confessed, his voice carrying a tinge of regret. "Maybe I could've done something to stop them."

I took a moment before responding, choosing my words with care. "Hirata, you can't blame yourself for the choices others make. Yamauchi and Ike made their decisions, and we can't change that. What we can do is learn from it and grow stronger as a class."

His gaze remained fixed on the ground, as if searching for answers in the patterns of the carpet.

"I… had a friend. In elementary school, he was my best friend, for six years, actually. We were even neighbors and seatmates, and we always went to and back from school together."

"But in middle school, we slowly drifted apart since we were assigned to different classes. I made new friends, but he didn't. The days we spent together started declining very gradually and eventually, diminished completely."

"But… while I was busy hanging out with friends from my new class, he was being bullied behind my back."

Hirata clenched his fist. Tears were beginning to form in his eyes as he looked up at the ceiling.

"He sent me so many pleas for help many times. He'd show up with his face injured and marks all over him. But I chose to become silent, deaf, and blind."

"I didn't take him seriously. I thought he just wanted attention, and he'd figure it all out."

He slumped against a wall, head hanging down in defeat. "Part of me was scared that the bullies might change their targets onto me."

"I thought one of three outcomes would happen: Either one day the bullies would just get bored of him, or Sugimura would stop coming to school and the bullying would stop, or somebody else would step in and save him."

"I just kept on thinking self-serving things like that."

"One day, after my morning soccer practice, I returned to his classroom. And there, I saw him.

"I'd hesitated before going in since, at the time, I felt uncomfortable. Even though he was a friend, I felt like a stranger to him."

Hirata's breaths were ragged and shaky, as he recounted the experience to me.

I didn't offer any words of consolation, as he needed to vent and remove these thoughts.

"I couldn't help but think cruel thoughts like I would be bullied along with him if I associated myself back with him. Neither of us said a word. Nothing could be heard and felt but a deafening silence and eerily cold atmosphere."

"That day, in the middle of class… he jumped out the window."

"After being sent to the hospital, he was declared brain dead and even now, his parents are still waiting for his recovery and believe in it. But whether he's still alive or dead now, I don't know what to think about it."

"The moment he jumped, I became acutely aware—that by treasuring only myself, I pushed my friend to his death."

"I swore I would never let anything happen again to my classmates. But, as you know, that didn't happen."

Hirata gave me a broken smile. I gave him a small pat on the shoulder. With that one pat, that one touch, his eyes filled with tears. I emptied all the great burdens he carried. By offering my comforting presence, he was able to release his emotions. It was clear that this event happened not long before Yōsuke entered this school. If Yamauchi and Ike had been present in the class for longer, and then had been expelled, he might have taken it much harder than he was right now.

Currently, Hirata was not crying for Yamauchi and Ike; rather, he was crying for his inability to protect them. He was crying for his weakness. I had seen it countless times before.

"You can't change the past, Yōsuke. But you can choose how to navigate the present."

"I just wanted our class to be better than this. To rise above these kinds of issues."

"We can still make that happen, Hirata. Tomorrow, during homeroom, Okitani will address the class and guide them toward a better path. Unity and cooperation are key. We can overcome this setback."

"But what if we're already too far gone? What if the class is irreparably damaged?"

I met his gaze. "It's never too late to change, Hirata. People make mistakes, but it's how we respond that defines us. Tomorrow is a new day, a chance for us to reset the course of our class. We'll face it head-on and make our class better."

He absorbed my words, the weight on his shoulders seemingly lifting. A sense of determination sparked in his eyes. "You're right, Ayanokōji-kun. We can't let this define us. Let's make tomorrow's homeroom count."

"Thank you, Ayanokōji-kun. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Men are difficult, frustrating creatures who won't let others see them cry except in special circumstances. Which was why I wanted that kind of friendship. Where I could shed tears in front of someone.

No more words needed to be said. All he needed was a friend by his side. Someone who he could be vulnerable with and who would listen. With that, he could begin walking forward again.

Every class D student was defective, either on the outside or the inside.

Horikita Suzune had a superiority complex. Kōenji Rokusuke was egotistical. Okitani Kyōsuke was physically weak and mentally lazy. Sudō Ken was academically weak. Sotomura Hideo was an otaku and weak physically.

As for the interior defects, Hirata had a savior complex. Matsushita wanted to hide her abilities. Every Class D student was defective. Yet, there was potential for every single student to grow. As I was pondering the students of my class, I stopped on a certain blonde-haired classmate.

What are you hiding, Kushida Kikyō?

-o-o-o-

When I entered the room, the class seemed to be chattier than usual for some reason.

"Good morning, Ayanokōji-kun!"

Some of the boys glared at me in jealousy as I replied to Kushida.

"Ah-good morning, Kushida."

"Is your neck alright?"

"A-Ah, yeah, it's fine. I just had a little bruising from something, that's all."

The concealer from Fūka was far too light for the dark mark, and I had to resort to other measures.

"I see. Is that why you have that Band-Aid?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I get it. Hope you feel better!"

"Thanks."

I looked at Okitani, who was joking around with Sudō and Sotomura in the back corner of the room.

After classes ended for the day, Chabashira-sensei ceded the homeroom time to us.

"I will not be holding homeroom today, because Okitani Kyōsuke has an announcement." She stated.

Hirata and Kushida accompanied Okitani to the podium. "Everyone, could we please have your attention?"

With the class's two social pillars at the front, Class D finally quieted down so that they could hear Okitani Kyōsuke speak.

"Thank you everyone.

In fact, I rented homeroom time from Chabashira Sae with points. Any currency is useless if the school keeps injecting it.

"Okay, so I've noticed some strange things about this school. I discussed it with Kushida, Hirata, and Ayanokōji last night, and we've come to some conclusions."

Heads swiveled to look at me. Okitani, you traitor!

"One: Assuming that we receive 100,000 points per month and all three years and classes do, that amounts to 576 million yen. Unsustainable for a school."

"This is why I dug back to my memory on the first day of school. Chabashira-sensei said we would receive points on the first of every month, and that 100,000 points had already been deposited into our account for this month. She never said we would receive 100,000 points per month. That was just an assumption that everyone made."

There were looks of disbelief and shock on my classmates' faces.

"Moreover, we can see evidence that there are free items in the convenience store and the cafeteria. Even if these items are just emergency items, Ayanokōji and I saw some third-years eating with the free lunch sets, even though it was the first of the month. They did not receive the 100,000 points."

"O-Oh..." Karuizawa Kei had a hand over her mouth. She, like many of the girls, had spent lots of points on shopping in the first week.

"Why are the teachers so lax about our behavior? They don't care that we're on our phones, or late to class, or sleeping, or watching themself in the mirror, or staring out the window."

I felt Okitani's words pierce through my heart as he directed his words towards me. How cruel!

"The cameras."

Okitani Kyōsuke had a sharp gaze. He pointed towards the four hidden cameras in the corners of the room. Whispers and murmurs began spreading among the class like wildfire.

"He could be right…"

"Are we screwed? I already spent like, 80,000 points…"

"No… it's over…"

Okitani allowed the class to silence itself before continuing. "This school promises a 100% graduation rate into any institution. However, that depends on our performance. Companies evaluate your performance and give you a salary, just like this school. Those cameras are evaluating our performance as we speak."

"It's also not guaranteed whether this performance is individual or class-based. The expulsion of Yamauchi and Ike could also have a negative impact on this class.

With that, the class erupted into shouting and yelling. Chabashira-sensei had a displeased look on her face.

"Those fucking perverts got themselves expelled!"

"I can't say I regret it!"

"My points…"

"Noo I can't read the newest light novel now!"

"My gambling addiction…"

"We're so fucked!"

"Everyone, please calm down!" Kushida said. Hirata also tried to placate the class. Soon enough, the talking ceased.

"I have a question." It was my seatmate. The black-haired, red-eyed Horikita Suzune, otherwise known as the ice queen for her antisocial behavior.

"Yes, Horikita-san?"

"Is there any way to confirm your findings?"

"Well, Chabashira-sensei did say that points could be used to buy anything," Okitani pointed out, before turning to the person in question. "Chabashira-sensei, may we buy the information to this?"

"Yes. However, it's going to cost the entire class," she responded.

"I think we should buy the information." Hirata proposed. Kushida quickly jumped in.

"I agree! This could help us to confirm Okitani's theory so that we can work together!"

It was Karuizawa Kei adding to it soon after. "Yeah! I need to know how many points we're getting next month!"

With these three social elites leading the way, the rest of the class soon agreed to the proposal.

"Very well. Listen up, Class D."

"Most of what Okitani said was correct. Your purchase cost you 200 class points, by the way. The two expulsions cost 600 class points. Each class point translates to 1,000 private points. Every class started with 1,000 class points, so you were rewarded with 100,000 private points. There's one thing Okitani missed, however."

"Classes are ranked from D to A. Only Class A has the luxury of obtaining the 100% graduation guarantee. In other words, there exists interclass competition. However, you guys are Class D defects. You even proved it with the expulsion of two of your classmates."

Chabashira-sensei didn't look very happy.

"Uh, Chabashira-sensei, how many class points do we have right now?" Okitani asked nervously.

"After your purchase, it's negative six hundred. Congratulations, you've set a historic record that no one has ever achieved in this school—going into the negatives." Chabashira-sensei clapped her hands mockingly.

The classroom was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

"W-What? Does that mean we're losing private points next month?"

She smirked. "No, it just means you have a massive deficit you have to make up. Class A might have around 900 points left at the end of this month. Meanwhile, you all will be receiving zero points this month."

"No…"

"Impossible…"

"Fuck! We're so screwed!"

There were various reactions around the classroom. Crying, sobbing, blank stares, anger, depression, grief. It was natural human emotion to realize that your lifeline was being taken away.

Sotomura had a mournful look on his face, while Sudō clenched his fist, red with rage. Satō, Mori, and Matsushita exchanged frantic gazes with each other.

In this school, friendships would be broken and habits would be erased, because of interclass competition. However, with this enormous deficit between Class D and Class A…

It was safe to say that we would never reach Class A at all unless someone took the class and steered it in the right direction.

"Everyone, listen up!"

Okitani continued. "I want to designate some leadership roles so we can ensure class unity and tackle any exams that come our way. Specifically, an Academic Committee and a Strategy Committee."

"What would these committees consist of?" Hirata wondered. Okitani hadn't actually briefed us on this part of his plan.

"The Academic Committee would focus on tutoring groups for normal exams, and the Strategy Committee would be for anything unexpected that comes our way. We can make an Academic Committee later, once we gauge our academic strengths."

"First and foremost, since Ayanokōji helped me with this discovery, I want to appoint him as the head of the Strategy Committee."

All eyes turned to me. Okitani, you traitor. You're just as bad as that smirking dictator. Okitani and Horikita Manabu would be on my watch list from now on.

I sighed. Did I want to do this? Well, why not? Let's have some fun.

"Okay. My first move as the head of the Strategy Committee is to appoint some new members. Okitani Kyōsuke and Matsushita Chiaki."

The eyes that were on me now turned to Matsushita, and she had a light, embarrassed blush on her face after being called out by me. In this situation with social pressure, it was better to accept than refuse. "Uh, sure."

"I have no qualms with that," Okitani replied. "The tutoring groups can be led by Kushida and Hirata, as well as the top scorers on the next test we have."

Some excited murmurs spread among the class. It felt like a student government, and now that we had some class structure and unity, we might be able to come back from this massive class point deficit. We were 600 points below 0, after all.

"Everyone, please make sure to keep this information to yourselves. I know you may have friends from other classes, but we paid 200 class points for this information, so it's only fair that we keep a secret."

Kushida and Hirata voiced their agreement, and with that, homeroom ended. Okitani had established himself as the class leader.

The day passed by quickly, and I was eager to visit the library to read some books. Maybe I would see Shiina. As I stepped out of the classroom, a voice called to me.

"Wait, Ayanokōji-kun."

I turned to my black-haired seatmate. "Yes?"

"Can I join the Strategy Committee?"

"I'm not so sure. You're very antisocial, so I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to contribute."

"I'll contribute, I promise."

"Are you sure? I haven't seen any potential in you so far, despite being the Student Council President's little sister."

She froze, eyes wide.

"He's probably disappointed in you." I didn't know if that was true, but I wanted to test her mettle.

"What would you know?" She finally recovered and bit back at me.

"Me? Well, I talk with him every morning at the gym. Oh, he even offered me the Vice President position on the Student Council."

Horikita Suzune resembled a gaping fish. Perhaps she was a bro-con or had an estranged relationship with him. This level of worship and importance was concerning.

"What? I don't believe you." However, there was a hint of doubt in her eyes.

"You'll see soon enough."

"I won't believe you until I hear it as an announcement myself. As for the committee, I promise I'll do my part."

"Even if that means making friends and being social? If you continue being so antisocial, companies won't want to hire you, Horikita."

"I get it. I'll be social. Here, you can have my contact information." We exchanged numbers.

"Sounds good then. I'll tell the others, then." I watched as Horikita left.

"Hey, Ayanokōji-kun."

It was the brown-haired Matsushita that walked up to me. "Why did you put me on the strategy committee?"

"I thought you were perceptive, and hence, a good fit. Don't you think so?"

"Well…"

"This way, you can contribute to the class while improving yourself. We still have a chance for Class A."

"How can you be so sure, when we're this far behind? Do you have an answer to all of this? We're sitting at -600 class points…" It was a valid question. How was it possible to swing such a deficit?

"I believe in our class and Okitani. And you. That's my answer."

"O-Oh… how bold…" Matsushita continued muttering something to herself, but I couldn't quite catch all of it.

In the end, I believed in Okitani's development as a leader. Matsushita and Horikita as strategists. Kushida and Hirata as moral supporters.

At its full potential, this class could become deserving of Class A. That, I was sure of.

-o-o-o-

I, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, need to get a drink.

I pivoted back towards the convenience store near the first-year dormitory. Unfortunately, I didn't see Shiina today at the library, so I went back to the dormitory to kill time by watching some anime.

As I walked, I pondered what drink I should get.

Is orange juice truly better than apple juice? What about lemonade and grape? I could count the number of juice flavors I had tried on one hand.

Orange juice, that classic morning companion, has an undeniable allure. Its sunny hue and citrusy burst of flavor seem to awaken the senses, making it an ideal choice to kickstart the day. The sweet tanginess and the nutritional boost it offers, packed with vitamin C, make it a favorite for many.

Apple juice, with its crisp and subtle sweetness, provides a more laid-back alternative. Its mellow, comforting taste can be enjoyed at any time, whether in a cozy evening by the fireplace or as a complement to a hearty breakfast. The simplicity of apple juice is its charm, offering a familiar, timeless flavor that appeals to all ages.

Then there's lemonade, the epitome of refreshment. Its tart flavor captures the essence of summer in a glass. The combination of lemons, sugar, and ice brings a sense of invigoration on a hot day, a taste that is both tangy and sweet, perfectly balanced.

Grape juice, with its rich, full-bodied sweetness, is like a taste of nature's candy. Its deep purple color hints at the intense flavor contained within. A glass of grape juice can be a comforting indulgence or a celebration of the harvest's bounty.

Yet, there were so many other juices that I had not yet tried. There's pomegranate juice, with its luxurious and exotic allure, or cranberry juice, with its tart and festive character, perfect for the holidays. Pineapple juice offers a tropical escape, while passion fruit juice invites you to explore the unknown. And for those seeking a healthy kick, there's green juice, a medley of vibrant vegetables that can be an acquired taste but offers a plethora of nutrients.

As I approached the vending machine at the corner of the convenience store, I sighed. I would try some grape juice.

Crossing the road, I noticed something. I saw a classmate of mine move around the corner of the convenience store near the first-year dormitory. I could barely see their face, but I could tell that it was my seatmate, Horikita Suzune.

I was curious, so I followed her.

"Suzune. I did not expect you to follow me here."

It was the evil dictator, Horikita Manabu. He looked at his little sister as if she were dirt beneath his feet.

"Nii-san! I'm not the person I was back then. I came here to catch up."

"You still fail to understand your shortcomings."

"I- I will reach Class A soon!" Horikita protested.

He sighed. "What an unreasonable little sister you are."

He grabbed her hand and slammed it against the wall. He could do this only because there were no cameras in this area.

Good thing I was already recording.

"My little sister, assigned to Class D... And I'm the one who must bear the shame of it. Leave this school immediately."

"Nii-san, I-"

"You have neither the right nor the ability to aim for something higher. You must learn..."

He was about to drive his hand into her abdomen.

But, for some reason, his hand was awfully slow. His posture, and everything about him, was interestingly... off. He knew I was there. He was testing me. I was fine with that.

I was there in a second, and I clutched his wrist, stopping it.

Horikita looked up, surprised.

"A-Ayanokōji-kun?"

"You were really going to drive that in, weren't you? Let her go."

Horikita-senpai did not respond. He was acting strange.

"Stop it, Ayanokōji-kun," Horikita whispered under her breath.

I'd never heard the proud and cold Horikita Suzune speak like that before... I let his wrist go.

Immediately, I could tell by his stance that he was going to attack me. Maybe he wanted to see my strength.

In that case, I would be happy to oblige.

I stepped backward, ducking under the fast backhand sent my way.

He didn't seem surprised. Instead, he sent a quick, sharp kick at my head.

Instead of ducking again, I opted to stop it with my forearm. There was a crack of impact, but my forearm did not move. It was good to know that my training in the gym has kept me in peak physical form.

I sent a basic right hook, which Horikita-senpai anticipated. Following that, I performed a spinning hook kick, using the back of my heel to attack. Kicks were slower than punches but held more power.

He attempted to block, but my hardened heel blew through his defenses, and he fell backward. I kicked again, this time performing a roundhouse kick. Since this kick involved hip rotation, it was more powerful than a basic kick.

In response, he ducked and sent a returning kick.

Quickly, I grabbed his ankle and threw him onto the ground. He rolled with the momentum, coming back to his feet. He backed away, putting distance between us.

Between the two of us, the infamous dictator had dust on his uniform, while I seemed clean. He'd have to clean his uniform later.

I looked to my side. Horikita Suzune resembled a gaping fish for the second time today. I was starting to think that that was her default expression.

"As expected of you, Ayanokōji. You move well. Do you practice something?"

"Who knows? I do practice filming, though."

I brought out my phone.

He smirked. He knew I was there, and knew that I was likely to record him and extort his points. Was he a masochist or something?

"You're an interesting man, Kiyotaka. How much?"

"What is your salary from the student council?" I countered.

"That is confidential."

Interesting negotiation tactic. Horikita Suzune looked even more bewildered, as we quickly entered negotiations. She was utterly and completely lost.

I had an inkling as to what he was going to do.

"Very well then," I nodded, "Ten million private points and a favor."

Obviously, that was too high. But the student council president, who was a third year, would likely have many private points. Footage like this could heavily damage his reputation within the school. He both confirmed the existence of class ranking and harmed another student.

I wanted to see his limit.

"Three million private points and a favor."

He didn't want to get rid of the favor? Interesting. Realistically, he had no grounds for negotiating here, but I didn't want to push my luck.

"Eight million private points and a favor," I retorted.

"Seven million private points and a favor. That is my final offer," he said.

"Nine million and a favor." His brow furrowed.

"That's not how negotiating works."

"Sorry, did I give you the impression that there was any negotiating to begin with? I just said the wrong number, that's all."

I felt some joy watching the dictator stumble. "Fine. Nine million and a favor."

I deleted the recording on my phone, making sure Horikita-senpai could see it. Soon enough, five million private points were transferred to my account.

"Now, I want to reiterate my offer for you to join the Student Council as Vice President."

Horikita Suzune gasped beside me, realizing that what I'd told her earlier today was true.

I was going to decline, but then I thought about it.

I had four reasons to join the Student Council. Reasons one through three were to annoy Nagumo Miyabi, Tachibana Akana or Loli-senpai, and Horikita Suzune. The last reason was to reap some private points.

"I guess I accept."

"Good," he nodded, "I look forward to your interview tomorrow, at the student council room. 5 pm. Do not be late." He turned to Horikita.

"Suzune, I'm happy to see that you've made a friend at this school."

"He's not a friend. He's a… an acquaintance."

The black-haired dictator let out an exhale of amusement. "Ayanokōji is a good man. You would do well to heed his advice."

And with that, he walked away.

Great, now he was recommending the gaping fish to follow me around and interrogate me. My current blacklist consisted of Okitani Kyōsuke and Horikita Manabu, but the smirking dictator had now moved up to number one on the list.

"What was that!?" Horikita Suzune suddenly demanded, sprinting up to me. She was most likely referring to the interaction I had just had with her elder brother.

I shrugged apathetically.

"Who knows?"

"Don't play with me!" she glared at me. It was the polar opposite of how she had been with her brother.

"Do you intend to make demands of me?" I asked her, "You're being hypocritical."

"Tch," she scoffed, "I see no reason to interact with those who are intrinsically below me. I will make it to Class A, with or without their help."

It was like she had reverted back to her factory settings of being antisocial and having a superiority complex.

"Okay." She was boring me, so I started walking away.

"Hey! Wait, come back!"

I turned around. "What did you say? Didn't you say you'd be more social and not have a superiority complex?"

Horikita bit her lip. She exhaled loudly. "Okay, fine then. What convinced my brother to recruit you to the Student Council?"

"I don't know. You'll have to stick around the Strategy Committee to find out."

I saw a spark of potential in Horikita Suzune. By encouraging her to spend time with others, I hoped that she would become one of Class D's pillars to support Okitani.

She was intelligent and perceptive. Truth be told, if she hadn't been so antisocial from the beginning, I might have considered her for the position of class leader.

-o-o-o-

If you would like to support my writing and gain access to exclusive content, including early chapters, please join the link below! (Formatting is weird because of FFN)

P a treon . com (slash) thannwriting

Thanks for reading!

Next Chapter:

-thann